14 DAY TRIAL // 
Bass drums, snare streams and the occasional hi-hat crab are just some of the elements that you will encounter in the land of Symphonia, a realm where every creature is part of a master plan that will enchant your ears with sweet rhythmic music.
After four years of development and a few awards, the Hamburg based team, Threaks, has released not just another music game, but also a masterpiece that blends rhythm and platforming elements in a unique and addictive way.
Beatbuddy: Tale of the Guardians takes you on an epic journey through the land of Symphonia, a fantasy world where flora and fauna generates mesmerizing music. In this mystical world, you play as Beatbuddy, an ethereal underwater creature who sets to save Symphonia from the tyrant who seeks to control all the music in the land, Prince Maestro.
While the humorous story behind the game is the work of the famous Rhianna Pratchett (Mirror’s Edge, Tomb Raider), for the musical part, Threaks have gathered some pretty impressive artists including Grammy-Nominee Austin Wintory (Journey PS3), Sabrepulse (Chime PS3) or Parov Stelar famous for his electro-jazz beats.
The whole world of Symphonia is reacting to your actions, interrupting any of these creatures will result with the removal of that sound from the audio track for a brief moment. If you get hit by spikes or other enemies, the music will distort until you find some health containers.
The puzzles you will encounter vary from killing a bunch of enemies to making your way through the level, cleverly using bouncing platforms to break through walls or finding power supplies that activate switches and open new areas.
Passing through snare streams requires timing and is as simple as pressing the right button to give Beatbuddy a boost. These puzzles fit perfectly into the game’s rhythm theme, making you crave for more as you continue exploring this lively world.
Beatbuddy’s other skill is to drive the BubbleBuggy, an underwater vehicle equipped with a gun that allows you to kill enemies and clear obstacles. The BubbleBuggy sections are a joy to play, since the whole orchestra will accompany your every move. The vehicle moves only to the beat making it a little harder to control at first, but, a few tunes later, you will start to get the hang of it.
Overall, the puzzles blend very well with the catchy songs that will make you return to the game only to listen them over and over again. Speaking about audio, the sound of Beatbuddy is top notch, as you might expect from a rhythm game.
Each level starts with a simple and constant beat that will build gradually, as you explore more of the world until you get to a point where a whole band is accompanying you while your feet are tapping on the beat without even noticing. Every track is unique and blends perfectly with the enchanting hand painted artwork. The environment is cleverly crafted out of multiple layers adding depth and personality to this amazing world.
While the controls are easy to master, sometimes I found myself stuck for a few minutes in some areas where the combination Spacebar (boost)/F button (hold object) made navigation a little bit difficult.
Beatbuddy: Tale of the Guardians is a fun new approach for the action-platform genre. The amazing soundtrack is complimented by the gorgeous hand painted levels in a unique combination that will make you come back even after a full playthrough.
Whether you just want to listen to some cool music or dive in to help our hero save the world of Symphonia, Beatbuddy: Tale of the Guardians is a must-play for every fan of the genre.
